Thermochemical processes I Heat Treatments Carburizing / Carbonitriding Surface hardening of Steel 2035 2030 2025 2020
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Thermochemical processes I Heat Treatments
Carburizing / Carbonitriding Surface hardening of Steel 2035 2030 2025 2020 2015 2010 2005
High wear resistance
Increased mechanical properties
High stability
Improved fatigue strength
High surface hardness
Improved ductility
Increased impact resistance
High resistance against impacts
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Carburizing / Carbonitriding Surface hardening of Steel What is case-hardening?
interstage cooling or new heating to a new
to partially to case-harden due to appropriate
Case-hardening is one of the thermochemical
material-specific curing temperature. In order
insulation techniques. The repeatability of
processes. During this process the edge
to minimize distortions, it is also possible,
the processes is achieved through continuous
of workpieces is enriched with carbon
instead of directly in cold oil or water, to
monitoring of the process parameters.
(carburizing), or a combination of carbon
quench in oil or in a warm bath.
and nitrogen (carbonitriding) to improve the
The third step is tempering and mainly
Case Hardening Depth
mechanical properties of the edge layer of
serves to diminish the highest stresses in the
The Case Hardening Depth, in short CHD or EHT
the workpiece. Typical case hardening steels
structure and to diminish the grinding crack
(Einsatzhärtetiefe), is the vertical distance of
include a carbon content of 0.10% to 0.25%
sensitivity. If required, a deep cold treatment
surface, where hardness has decreased to a
carbon and are easily machined in soft state.
is possible. In this case, the workpiece is
defined value (core hardness + 50, HV1). The
The alloyed case hardening steels contain
cooled to temperatures far below zero (at least
case hardening depth with its corresponding
chromium, nickel and molybdenum as the
below -80 °C) in order to reduce the residual
border hardness and test load must be agreed
most important elements. These increase
austenite percentage and thus improving the
between the customer and the heat treatment
significantly the hardenability of steel.
dimensional stability after hardening.
company, depending on the material and the
How does case-hardening take place?
Process Variations
standard.
Case hardening typically consists of three steps
In both carburizing and carbonitriding, the
The case hardening depth is measured by
In the first step, workpieces are exposed to a
chemical composition of the workpieces and
means of a destructive research to the product
carbon and/or nitrogen emitting environment.
the structure of their edge layers changed.
or the provided test piece.
This increases the carbon and/or nitrogen
Combination and carbonitriding is performed
percentage at the edge of the workpiece.
in liquid and gas media. Contrary to
The carbon profile and the penetration depth
carburizing, carbonitriding reaches higher
depend on the time at temperature, the
hardness and higher hardness penetration
amount of supplied carbon, the temperature
depths (Case hardening depths) in unalloyed
and the kind of steel used.
steel types. For both variations, different
In the second phase, quenching (hardening)
techniques are available such as in-and-out
takes place. This can be performed directly
furnaces, conveyor-belt furnaces, low pressure
from the carburizing temperature, or after an
installations etc., and further it is also possible
application, in conformity with the applicable
• Higher surface hardness • High toughness • Improved resistance against fraction
Ac3 core Carburizing Ac3 edge
Harden
Temperature
• Higher wear resistance
Temperature
Properties Ac3 core Carburizing Ac3 edge
Harden
• Improved fatigue strength
A
• Partial hardening possible
B
Temper
Temper
Ac3 core Carburizing Harden
Ac3 edge
Time
Temperature
Temperature
Time
Ac3 core Carburizing Ac3 edge
Tough core
Harden
C
D
Temper Time
Hard edge layer Graphical representation of a case-hardened component
Possible temperature-time paths when carburizing
Temper Time
A
Direct hardening
B
Single hardening
C
Hardening after isothermal transformation
D
Dual hardening